Integrated Model of Cybercrime Dynamics
This review examines the article “Integrated Model of Cybercrime Dynamics: A Comprehensive Framework for Understanding Offending and Victimization in the Digital Realm” by Troy Smith, published in the International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence and Cybercrime.
Relation to Social Sciences
The study emphasizes the need for a distinct theoretical framework to understand cybercrime, recognizing cybercriminology as a unique field that intersects criminology, psychology, and information technology.
The model incorporates Social learning theory (SLT) by highlighting how social contexts and online behaviors influence cybercriminal actions.
The article critiques routine activities theory (RAT) for its limitations in explaining cybercrime dynamics and suggests that while RAT provides a foundation, it must be integrated with other theories to address the complexities of online environments.
Research Questions and Hypotheses
The study addresses key questions:
How can we create a comprehensive framework for understanding cybercrime dynamics?
What are the relationships between individual characteristics, online behaviors, and cybercrime outcomes?
The study hypothesizes that cybercrime dynamics are influenced by a complex interaction of individual characteristics, online behaviors, and environmental factors. Specifically, the research proposes that personality traits, social norms, gratification motivations, and technological infrastructure collectively shape cybercriminal behavior and victimization patterns more comprehensively than traditional criminological theories.
Research Methods
The author follows the approach of theoretical analysis to develop the Integrated Model of Cybercrime Dynamics, or IMCD for short. This study synthesizes the literature contribution in criminology, psychology, and information technology and critically assesses traditional theories such as Routine Activities Theory-RAT and Social Learning Theory-SLT to underline their shortcomings with regard to explaining cybercrime. The study thus provides a framework towards understanding cybercriminal behavior and victimization based on personality traits, motivations, social norms, and online behaviors. This approach, therefore, explains how these factors interact in a digital context, opening paths for further research and intervention strategies (Smith, 2024).
Data and Analysis
The article conducts a thorough analysis of existing literature to support the proposed Integrated Model of Cybercrime Dynamics (IMCD). It examines how personality traits such as impulsiveness and self-control correlate with cybercrime involvement. The analysis also explores motivations for cybercriminal behavior, including financial gain and peer recognition. Additionally, the study considers social norms and online behaviors that influence both offending and victimization. By integrating these elements into a cohesive framework, the IMCD offers a comprehensive understanding of the complex factors contributing to cybercrime dynamics (Smith, 2024).
Relation to Course Concepts
The Integrated Model of Cybercrime Dynamics (IMCD) is consistent with those central concepts from the course. It investigates how external factors influence behaviors in cybersecurity from a sociological point of view. The model contains structural functionalism, whereby it examines how personality traits, along with social norms, influence cybercrime. It addresses the conflict theory by recognizing the power dynamics and inequalities in digital spaces. The IMCD is representative of symbolic interactionism through its focus on individual interactions and online behaviors. Additionally, it views how social forces such as the economy, education, and technology shape cybercrime, which is of importance in forming cybersecurity.
Marginalized Groups and Cybercrime
Since the author not addressed to a specific group or community but addressed overall marginalized communities or groups.
Digital Divide: It acknowledges how variations in connectivity and digital literacy affect individuals’ vulnerability to cybercrime, highlighting disparities that often impact marginalized communities.
Victimization Patterns: By examining how personality traits and social contexts influence victimization, the model suggests that marginalized groups may face unique risks based on their social environments and access to resources.
Contributions of the Study
Providing a Comprehensive Framework: The IMCD offers a complete approach to understanding cybercrime dynamics that integrates multiple theoretical perspectives.
Informing Prevention Strategies: By identifying key components influencing cybercrime, the model can guide future research and inform targeted interventions aimed at reducing victimization.
Enhancing Cybersecurity Awareness: The framework encourages awareness of how personal traits and online behaviors contribute to both offending and victimization, promoting better cybersecurity practices among individuals.
Conclusion
Troy Smith’s article presents a significant advancement in understanding cybercrime through an integrated framework that accounts for various factors influencing offending and victimization. While not explicitly focused on marginalized groups, it lays groundwork for future research addressing their unique challenges in cyberspace.
References
Smith, T. (2024). Integrated Model of Cybercrime Dynamics: A Comprehensive Framework for Understanding Offending and Victimization in the Digital Realm. International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime, 7(2), 54-70. DOI: 10.52306/2578-3289.1163.
https://vc.bridgew.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1163&context=ijcic